Circumcision clamp



y 1951 c. T. BUCKINGHAM 2,561,176

CIRCUMCISION CLAMP Filed Sept. 15; 1950 Fm. I.

INVENTOR. CHARLES T BUCKINGHAM A TTORNEYS Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED! STATES QAIENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

Y My invention relates to a simple, light-weight, one-piece circumcision clamp which may be left in place on the penis for from 24 to 60 hours after the operation of circumcision to prevent bleeding during the healing period.

, It should be understood that there is no great danger from bleeding during the operation itself, since the surgeon is present to control it. However, after the operation has been performed and the baby has been returned to the nursery, he is usually left undisturbed for intervals of from one to three hours. During that time the prepuce may begin bleeding and this may continue until there has been a serious loss of blood. v f. The clamp is so constructed as to avoid stretching the prepuce upon its removal, thus permitting the compressed sealed prepuce to remain completely intact and free to contract gently about the glans to assure uncomplicated healing with excellent cosmetic result. Since the clamp is in one piece at all times, there is no problem of losing part of it, or finding oneself with parts of two clamps of difierent sizes at a crucial moment. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view showing my new clamp;

Figure 2 is a side view of the clamp;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1, showing the clamp passed over the penis in open position; and

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1, showing the clamp passed over the penis in closed position.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

As shown in the drawings, the clamp comprises a solid outer ring I0, carrying a projection ll. Two arcuate springy gripping members I 2, biased away from each other, are each pivotally attached at one end to the projection I l, by means of the pivot member l3, which pierces the projection. The opposite ends of the springs I-2 are respectively attached to the two ends of an inner ring M, which is open at the part nearest the projection II and composed of resilient material, biased outwardly. One end of the inner ring carries a shell-like projecting cover l5 which extends over the opposite end 16 of this ring even when it is fully expanded, so that compression of the ring will not result in catching the skin of the prepuce between the ends of the ring. The outer ring is grooved to receive the inner ring, as best shown in Figure 3.

When in use, the prepuce is slit dorsally, in the usual manner. The outer ring is passed over the glans of the penis, outside the prepuce, with the inner ring swung upward as shown in Figure 5, and the prepuce adjusted over the groove in the outer ring. The inner ring is then passed inside the prepuce over the glans and is slowly pressed into the groove in the outer ring by compressing the gripping members l2. When a proper position has been reached, the surgeon simply releases the gripping members and the inner ring expands into gripping position. The prepuce is then adjusted for gathering or wrinkles, the excess prepuce trimmed ofi", and the clamp left in place until healing is well advanced. The clamp is finally removed by simply gripping the springs to compress the inner ring, and pulling slightly. It will be observed that since the clamp is removed by compressing the inner ring, there is no expansion of the partially healed prepuce, and consequently no pain, and no tendency to open up the wound again. The clamp may, of course, be made in several sizes to suit patients of all ages, although the operation is most commonly performed on inf-ants.

While I have shown my invention in only one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A circumcision clamp comprising in combination an outer ring, a resilient outwardly biased open inner ring having abutting ends, co,ncentric with and pressing against the interior of said outer ring when the clamp is in closed position, and two connecting members both pivotally mounted on said outer ring and one connected near each end of said inner ring.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 in which said connecting members are resilient and biased away from each other.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 in which one end of said inner ring is shell-like and extends over the opposite end of said inner ring in even its most expanded position.

4. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 in which the 3 inner surface of the outer ring is grooved to receive the inner ring.

5. A circumcision clamp comprising an outer ring and a resilient bar having two ends and shaped into an outwardly biased resilient inner ring concentric within and pressing against the interior of said outer ring when said clamp is in closed position and two connecting members, each connecting one end of said resilient ring to said outer ring.

6. A clamp as claimed in claim 5 in which said connecting members project in the same direction away from the plane occupied by said rings, so that said connecting members may be gripped between the fingers.

'7. A clamp as claimed in claim 6 in which said connecting members are pivotally attached to said outer ring.

CHARLES T. BUCKINGHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

